The Whitworth String Orchestra, conducted by Roberta Bottelli, is broadening
its musical horizons during its spring concert by performing two jazz
pieces, What's Next and
Bossa Verde, by Bert Ligon. The concert will take place Tuesday,
April 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall at Whitworth
College. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information,
please call (509) 777- 3280.

"We are adding winds and brass for the Holst and the Haydn pieces, which
is pretty exciting," Bottelli says.

Last year Bottelli began establishing a string program at Whitworth.
In addition conducting the string orchestra, she recruits students and
coaches the string quartet. Bottelli and Whitworth Music Department faculty
plan to create a full symphonic orchestra - complete with winds, brass
and percussion - within the next five years.

"Much of the most important music by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart
and Brahms was created for symphony orchestra, in which the majority of
the musicians are string players," Bottelli says. "Our goal is to attract
more string students to Whitworth and to provide an environment in which
they can grow as musicians."